NEVER TOO LATE OR TOO POOR TO LEARN
The Hijas de Jesús in Angono, Rizal Give HELP

This school year 2011 the Hijas de Jesús Community at Angono, Rizal  launched a way of delivering formal education by collaborating with Seibo College’s Home Education Learning Program (HELP). Seibo College is in Malabon City.  It was founded by Fr. Rogelio Alarcon, O.P. two years ago & has received government recognition. (The word- Seibo is a Japanese name for Holy Mother Mary)  The school building is painted with the Marian colors of blue & white.

As an educational institution, Seibo College is committed to bringing ungraded education to Filipinos all over the country. The HELP is Seibo College‘s way of trying to solve the illiteracy in our country; it aims to provide formal elementary & secondary education  to individuals who are out-of-school youths & adults, drop-outs, over-aged learners & to those who have no opportunity for formal schooling. It has two ways of carrying this out: (1) the school-based & (2) the community–based HELP.

The key features of the program are the following:

1. It is an ungraded system & proficiency learning program;
2. It is community-based;
3. It enables the learners to learn outside structured classrooms & teachings which promote independent, outstretched learning & self-discovery;
4. Its learning facilitators monitor closely the learner’s progress;
5. It is made available for the out-of-school youths, drop-outs, & those who have no opportunity for formal schooling in different parts of the country through the community–based HELP. This is offered for free & is handled by a community or volunteer(s) who is/are interested to provide formal schooling to marginalized individuals in their community. 

How to establish a community–based HELP in the area?

• a volunteer-based administrator who will be in direct contact with Seibo College;
• volunteer tutors who will assist the community–based HELP learners in their study;
• an area for gathering the learners for information or instruction.

The Hijas de Jesús Sisters composed of Sr. Ma Fe Teodosio (Superior), Dionisia Quela, Felicidad de Jesus & Lina Cornelio have established a community–based HELP in the area of Angono upon completion of the initial requirements from Seibo College’s HELP. The Sisters visited Seibo College in Malabon & met with the Principal, Mrs. Tanya David.  One of the Sisters in the community was designated as the volunteer administrator & the three other Sisters plus five lay volunteers are volunteer tutors. The area for gathering is the St. Cándida Formation Center located at Barangay Kalayaan, Angono. At present, there are 32 learners: 14 learners for Grades I–VI (ages 8 to 48 years old & 19 learners for high school (ages 16 to 48 years). There all kinds of learners:  housewives, vendors, lavanderas, children, youths & adults. The Sisters already have had several meetings in the center with interested learners & their parents or guardian(s) & possible volunteer tutors for the presentation of HELP. May St. Cándida María de Jesús help the center named after her, the learners, volunteers and Hijas de Jesús community in Angono.  Blessed be God!

[see photos]